Zalam Kao is made up of five core members from diverse cultural backgrounds—Argentinian, Brazilian, Creole and Tunisian—who met at school and banded together around their love for music. Zalam Kao’s momentum has been so powerful that it carried them to the top prize of Nuit d’Afrique’s Syli d’Or de la Musique du Monde 2026. It’s a celebration of a rich, fusion-inspired sound and the camaraderie of five friends fuelled by a creative new musical style. Zalam Kao is something of a cross between Manu Chao and Clay and Friends, according to Radio-Canada’s Nicolas Ouellet.

“The band shows off its love for konpa, West African pop, classic Afrobeat, funk, soul and hip-hop,” (Le Devoir, 2026). And as if that weren’t enough, a touch of jazz also flavours their songs with a 1970s soul-funk groove. In French, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese and Creole! Having already pursued studies in music, the guys from Zalam Kao, which formed in 2024, got off to a flying start. Then, in October 2025, the Montreal quintet released their debut album, Tou Lumin.

A single listen to the song “Tout pour toi” is enough to sweep you off your feet. In its music video, released in the middle of summer 2024, the members of Zalam Kao are seen hanging out, fooling around, playing music and having barbecues with friends in Montreal’s hippest neighbourhoods. The song is an ode to just chilling and being yourself, despite life’s challenges and bleaker moments. A poetry of simplicity, as expressed by Edaï, Momo and Ogou Rayfé, ready to “sail the ocean” in a deliberately joyful Latin style. Climb aboard their craft—their vibes will intoxicate you with a rare sense of euphoria…